Face-Off/Aftab Shivdasani

Yes! He8217;s the new kid on the block who8217;s being launched by Ramgopal Varma in his latest romance, Mast.

But where did Varma dig him up from?

Well, it wasn8217;t exactly from nowhere. quot;I8217;d recently done the Coke and Bar One commercials. He saw me in the former and felt I fit the boy-next-door8217; bill which was essential to play his hero.quot;

Oh! So he8217;s a model as well?

Yes. And mind you, at the ripe old age of 21, he8217;s a veteran at it too. quot;I started my career when I was 14 months old with the Farex ad.quot; And, used his dimpled smile to ample advantage like he still does.

Anyway, there8217;s an old saying about models and acting: they rarely go together. What8217;s his take on that?

Aftabdoesn8217;t place himself in that league. After all, he8217;s had a headstart on this one too. quot;I8217;ve acted as a child artiste in several films including Shekhar Kapur8217;s Mr India. Of course, when you8217;re a kid you get away with anything. Today, I have a much better understanding of cinema and acting.quot;

What about getting himself an education. Did he find time to do that as well?

Yes, he did. quot;While I was growing up, modelling and acting were merely hobbies. But yes, I did screen tests throughout school and college.quot; And apart from doing the odd ad-film, he also featured in a couple of music videos.

OK. And he got Mast just like that?

Yes. quot;Varma approached me and without any screen test or audition, I was hired. In our second meeting he narrated the script and that8217;s when I realised this is big8217;.quot; Yeah, and how!

So what was his first day at work like?

quot;We were shooting for a fight-cum-song sequence which has now been edited from the film. But when I saw people like Varma,Urmila, Farah Khan and Amin Ghani at work, I felt like a stupid newcomer. I wasn8217;t nervous, but for a slight second the wind whispered something in my ear: Now, there8217;s no looking back8217;.quot;

So what exactly is he doing in this film?

He8217;s playing a happy-go-lucky youngster called Kittu. quot;He8217;s very jovial and absolutely innocent. He8217;s obsessed with a film star 8212; he watches all her films and professes love to her photographs.quot;

Has he ever done that himself?

The answer is an emphatic no! quot;I cannot do that. I can talk to God, but not idolise anyone else. In that sense I didn8217;t identify with the character at all. But yes, in terms of his youth he8217;s like anybody from my generation.quot;

What about his co-star Urmila?

quot;I only watched her at work. In terms of professionalism and hard work, she8217;s the best. She8217;s totally non-interfering and a complete introvert. So it took us a while to break the ice. But not just her, the entire unit was so cool and easygoing that I didn8217;t face any problemsat all.quot; Now, now, aren8217;t we gushing!

But does he ever feel the need to formally train himself into his chosen profession?

quot;Acting has to come naturally 8212; after all it8217;s something everyone does at some point or the other, even in real life. It8217;s more like behaving. Yes, one does need fine-tuning which will come with doing my homework. Like I need to work on my Hindi. But the most important thing is to be focussed 8212; then half the battle is won.quot;

What else can he do besides acting?

Aftab is a fitness freak and a born sportsman. quot;I play everything from cricket, badminton and squash to snooker and table tennis.quot;

And has his newfound fame made any difference to his personal life?

quot;My family has never treated me like a star. But yes, we8217;re all still getting used to the idea of being recognised. I8217;m a very private person and I think the most important sacrifice I8217;ll have to make as an actor is getting used to being in the public glare.quot;

What about love, has he found ityet?

Yes. quot;But that8217;s all I8217;m going to tell you.quot;

What would he have liked to do if he hadn8217;t become an actor?

quot;I wanted to be a cricketer. But then Sachin Tendulkar came along.quot;